"One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them

One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.:"

Gandalf looked from one astonished, frightened face to the other. "This is the One Ring. Forged by Sauron, keeper of his power, and ruler of all the rings of power that still might exist."

Frodo was stunned, staring at the ring dangling from the broken chain Merry clenched in his hands. "How did it come to Bilbo? Gollum's cave…" He shook his head, nearly speechless in amazement. He felt cold though the fire still burned, merrily oblivious to the troubles of the world, in the large fireplace.

Gandalf sighed and nodded grimly. "Bilbo found it, which is the strangest fortune to find the ring, I believe, in the whole of its existence."

"You're talking about my ring," Merry put in suddenly, sharp and frowning. "The little golden trinket that Bilbo used to put on to play jokes."

Gandalf frowned at that. "Bilbo was lucky. Very lucky not to attract attention. But the Enemy was powerless through these past decades. It is only recently that he has summoned the strength to set his mind back on finding his lost treasure. Bilbo was lucky, and you have been lucky. But we can no longer trust to luck. I fear it may already be too late."

"Too late for what?" Merry asked in alarm.

"The ring has rested here, dormant, but it had been awakened. There are dark forces rising in the east. Sauron has bent his mind to the ring, to all rumours and stories of such things. He has spied the lands long and far, and has heard finally that the ring was not destroyed, and that it remains."

"I thought you said Sauron was destroyed. By Isildur." Merry frowned. "Or if not you said he just now got back enough strength to look for it. How dangerous can he be?"

"No. No, Merry, Sauron could not be destroyed while the ring survived. His fate is bound to the fate of the ring. It was lost, and like it he was lost. But they have both gained strength as they rested, through long years and with the benefit of having been mostly forgotten. And now." Gandalf leaned forward, looking from the two frightened faces before him to the ring on the table close to Merry's twitching hand. "Sauron has gathered enough strength to realize that the ring has survived. As he gathers his orcs, summons his strength, and rebuilds his lands, always he has been searching for this ring. And lately he has grown strong enough to call for it."

Merry's fingertip found the rim of the ring, stroking over it lightly.

Gandalf sat back. "And it has heard his calls. It feels his presence ever stronger. And the ring wants to return to the hand of its master."

Merry was speechless.

Frodo looked from the ring to Gandalf, astounded. "How did it ever come to find its way here? How could you have left it here, knowing what it was? Not even giving us a warning? It should be with…with elves, or with you!"

Gandalf raised his eyebrows, peering at the hobbit he'd known from infancy. "I learned the identity of the ring at the same time as you – minutes ago, when the fiery words appeared, in this very room. The history of the ring isn't one that any single person can know, though I have put most of it together, through years of hunting. But history is unimportant right now. Frodo. Meriadoc. Sauron's armies are almost restored. Soon he will have nothing to distract him from his search for this ring. And he must never…" He paused to stress the word. "Never be allowed to find it."

Merry took the ring up suddenly, curling his fist around it. Wide eyes went to Frodo and Gandalf in turn.

Frodo met his gaze and was reminded, suddenly and strongly, of a chubbier, younger, innocent Merry toddling after him as a child, looking to him for explanation of the world around them. Looking to Frodo for everything: to put right wrongs, to silence fears, to make things make sense.

Frodo looked away. This was beyond him, beyond any of them. His eyes went to Gandalf, to the one man he knew who would be fit to carry this load.

Merry spoke suddenly, sounding out his words as if speaking them unfiltered as the thoughts were born. "The ring survived here safe and undetected for decades. Surely it can be hidden again, while only a few of us know about it."

Frodo watched Gandalf's reaction, even as his heart leapt. "We'll hide it away. Merry can put it where no one will ever stumble across it, and we'll never even speak of it again. Not even to each other."

Merry stood suddenly, encouraged. "I know just the place."

But Frodo's eyes stayed on Gandalf, and he saw that the old wizard didn't seem in the slightest appeased.

He spoke hesitantly. "It will be safe here. No one else knows it's here. Do they?"

Gandalf met his eyes, grim.

Frodo's heart sank.

From behind him, Merry was pacing the floor and speaking mostly to himself. "There's a spot I know of. I'll have to set out tomorrow, first thing. Near the borders of the Old Forest. I'm sure it's a place no hobbit has ever seen, save me and Pippin, and even he was too young to remember it." He stopped and looked at the two of them decisively. "It will be safe there."

Gandalf shook his head. When he spoke, it was a low and halting voice as if he were reluctant to interrupt what triumph Merry had found in the thought. "There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the ring."

Merry sat down slowly, his fist pressed to his chest.

"I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum. I searched myself, and my most trusted allies searched where I could not. Certain elves were set to the task, and a man, a hunter the likes of which hasn't been seen in men for an age. Aragorn, a Ranger, and my close ally for many a year. It was he who found Gollum, after years of search and after I had given up hope of it. He turned the creature over to me, and I endured his babblings and rantings until I had gotten some measure of truth from him."

Frodo held his breath, and beside him Merry frowned.

"Gollum had picked his way up and down the forests chasing his precious, his lost ring. He found his way to Mordor, by summons or chance I know not. The enemy took him to their dungeons. And in his incoherent confessions he spoke of the Shire. And of Baggins."

Frodo paled, his breath coming out in a rasp. "Gandalf. That will bring them here."

Gandalf nodded.

Merry shook his head, his voice faint. "Bilbo is gone, though. Everyone knows it. Won't they be looking for Bilbo?"

Frodo's eyes widened, imagining shapeless dark evils chasing his old uncle as he strolled alone down some forest path.

"It won't matter what they learn of Bilbo. The Shire, unimportant and small, is now important in Sauron's mind. He will send his forces after every possible clue. Perhaps they will follow Bilbo, as he is the Baggins Gollum knew. But they will come here as well."

"They can't!" Merry stood again, looking around as if to wield off distant armies with his eyes. "Not here. Not because of…" He looked at his tightly clutched fist, and suddenly thrust it out towards Gandalf. "Take it! Take it away from here!"

Gandalf rose and backed away from the table, his gaze locked on the offered fist. "No."

"But you can get it somewhere safe. You're a wizard, you can handle evil. The Shire can't! Take it, Gandalf! We can be rid of it!"

"You must not offer it to me," Gandalf replied, his voice a rasp.

Frodo started at the look on the wizard's face – fear. Foreign to the old man entirely, and jarring to be seen now. "Gandalf, can't you take it somewhere safer?"

"No! No not tempt me, you infuriating hobbits!" The words were a roar, rumbling strong enough to make the small room of the hole shudder. His arms came out as if to push at Merry, to ward the ring away. He breathed in, the hole stopped rumbling, and the wildness left his eyes. "I dare not take it."

Merry drew his hand back, round eyes glossed, uncertain and small.

Gandalf shook his head, and when he spoke again his voice was back to normal. His shoulders slumped and he seemed a tired old man again. "Understand, Frodo. Merry. I would take this ring in my arrogance to keep it safe, because I know that I am stronger than most any other. But the ring knows arrogance and how to exploit it, and after a time of it working on my mind I would use it. Out of desire to do good, you must understand, I would use this ring and it would wield such power through me as to make it as dangerous and terrifying as if we'd handed it back to Sauron himself."

Frodo swallowed, frightened beyond measure by this admission, this knowing that the little ring in Merry's hand was too strong for Gandalf. Gandalf, the strongest he'd ever known. "But you said it can't stay here."

"It cannot," Gandalf confirmed.

Frodo stared at the wizard. It couldn't stay in the Shire. Gandalf could not carry it away. No one else could be told of it.

There was no option left. And yet…

It was hard. To leave the Shire. And to leave this way. It was beyond his grasp, for that long silence that followed, to comprehend it. No matter how many daydreams he'd had to go with Bilbo on an adventure, to leave the provencial Shire and its silly hobbits behind.

But Gandalf's eyes were not on him. They were on Merry. And Frodo was reminded suddenly and sharply that this was not his adventure to take, and the choice was not his. He looked at his young cousin.

Merry was pale, and his sharp mind had come to the answer as well, though he didn't seem any happier about it. He spoke, hushed, into the silence. "What…what will I have to do?"

"Leave the Shire," Gandalf answered gently. "Tonight. There isn't a moment to be lost."

Merry flinched, but nodded.

"And I?" Frodo braved the question.

Gandalf frowned at him. "You, Frodo. I can begin to understand why the ring was not meant for you, despite my greatest wishes. When the enemy discovers that what little information he has wrung from his Gollum creature is entirely false, he will be at a loose end. The ring will not be in the Shire, nor will it be in possession of a Baggins."

"But they won't know that until they come here," Merry put in, glancing at Frodo. "They'll come here looking."

Gandalf nodded. "It isn't safe for you to stay."

Frodo turned instantly, not giving himself time to think about it. "Then if we have no moments to lose we must prepare."

Merry grabbed his arm, and Frodo looked over at him. Merry's eyes were wide, but there was relief there as well. "Frodo…"

Frodo nodded at him, giving what he hoped to be a comforting smile. "Come on."

Gandalf followed the two hobbits as they moved through the front rooms of the small hole, gathering belongings and stuffing them into their worn walking packs. "The ring must not be talked about, nor shown to anyone. Frodo, whether you carry the thing or not, you must remember that the name of Baggins is not safe. It's you the dark forces will be following, and by name is their only means of tracing you."

Frodo nodded, wrapping bread for the journey, tossing apples into his pack hurriedly.

Merry spoke, and his voice was almost light. Inacting the plan semed to have rid him of his fears, at least on the surface. "You shall become a Brandybuck, then, Master Baggins, the way all your aunts and uncles and cousins wished you would."

The small smile on Merry's face lifted Frodo's spirits slightly, and he nodded. He was able to return the smile, which was a surprise. Despite this unheard-of departure and the danger surrounding them suddenly, he was glad he wasn't alone. Glad Merry was there with him, and glad also that Merry would not be carrying his burden without Frodo there to help.

"Brandybuck will do," Gandalf said brusquely. "The most important thing is to get the ring out of the Shire, and so out of knowledge of those who will come hunting. Choose a direction and set out, and I will meet you on the way. Rivendell, Frodo." He turned to Frodo sharply. "I think perhaps that should be your destination."

"Rivendell!" Merry smiled. "Well, that's almost a holiday! The fabled home of high elves!"

Frodo looked at Gandalf seriously. "Will the ring be safe there?"

"I don't know." Gandalf frowned. "I don't have any answers. I must go to see the head of my order. I will meet you, as I said. Get to Rivendell, if I've not already found you, and wait for me there."

Frodo nodded, his faith in Gandalf unshaken even by these revelations.

"You must avoid the road. It won't be safe."

"We can cross country. We'll go to visit my home, or so the interfering hobbits here can be told, and from there we can leave the Shire and hope not to be seen. I know the land there well," Merry said as he slipped his pack on his back.

Gandalf nodded his approval. He looked at both of them as Frodo slipped his pack on and turned to face them. He smiled suddenly, a kindly expression that made Frodo's spirits lift all the higher. "Hobbits are truly extraordinary creatures. Under all the laughter and smoking and eating, there are steel rings that can't be seen. There is strength to you, and that should prove well in our favour. Bagginses, I think, are the strongest of all."

Frodo straightened, pride in his face.

Gandalf looked to Merry. "I pray Brandybucks to be the same. You have no idea of the load you now carry, Meriadoc. You have heard the tale, yet I fear you still don't know, and can't." He knelt suddenly, holding Merry's wide gaze. "My heart wishes this thing were in Frodo's hands, I admit. It was always planned that way and I've yet to be shown why it shouldn't have been so. But things have a way of working out whichever way they want to, our own preferences aside. All our hopes lie in your hands, Merry. Will you be able to carry this through?"

Merry met his eyes, silent and shrinking under the enormity of what he'd been given to deal with.

Frodo didn't envy his young cousin. Merry was as lighthearted and irresponsible a hobbit as one could meet, and simply wasn't ready to be thrown into one of the stories, the adventures of the sort Bilbo often told and Frodo had longed to be part of.

But there was no choice to be made, no options for any of them. Like Gandalf, Merry had to accept what had happened and not risk things by changing it. Like Gandalf, and Frodo himself, Merry had to simply do his best.

Still, Merry peered into ancient and powerful eyes, and slumped under solemn words, and could not reply aloud.

Frodo hoped it wasn't an omen of things to come.